Sep 10, 2025

  • Alex Berger, PTO President (president@melrosepto.org)
    • Melrose PTO is nonprofit org focusing on community building, fundraising, and educational enrichment programming
    • Parent Action Items
      • Join the PTO (here)
      • Morning Valet needs volunteers: if interested go to PTO signup or email Tom Donovan, valet coordinator (tomdonovan310@gmail.com)
        • Valet is open 7:30-8am, gate closes 8:06am
        • Be ready to exit with your backpack when we open the door
        • Drivers should stay in the car
        • Exit curbside, not streetside
        • Watch out for parents and kids crossing the street
        • Social, light lift, get to wear a cool vest & helps out tremendously
    • PTO Events
      • Community Coffee Hour
        • This Fri, Sept 12th at 8am at lunch tables behind the main building
      • Campus Beautification (Danielle Tenner)
        • Saturday October 11th, 9am-12pm
        • Enter through the Formosa gate
        • Signup here
        • Artemesia (plant nursery) to help with native garden
        • Volunteers help plant, clean up, etc.
      • Harvest Festival (Julia Wiss)
        • Friday October 24th, 5-7pm
        • Enter through Formosa gate
        • Signup here
        • Celebrate the fall season with food carts, bake sale, chili cookoff, pumpkin decorating, costume contest and zombie ball!
    • PTO Fundraising
      • Family Fun Night at Lala’s on Melrose (Melinda Andrews)
        • Thursday September 25th, 11am-8pm
        • In coordination with Melrose’s Math and Science night
        • Use code “FAMILYFUN” to give back to Melrose
          • 15% donation for dine-in and takeout
          • 10% donation for online orders made through lalasgrill.com
          • Can be used multiple times during the time period
          • Excludes 6 lunch specials and happy hour items
      • Nasim Kablan, PTO Treasurer
        • Annual Giving Campaign: fall fundraiser, parent contributions
          • Wednesday September 10th to October 17th
          • Donate to continue enhanced programming such as:
            • Star Science, Technology, Physical Education, Playground Staff, Yearbooks (for all!), Filmmaking Classes, Theater Program, Garden Ranger, 5th Grade Field Trip to Catalina, Campus Beautification, Playground Staff
          • COVID funding is no longer happening
          • Last year total raised $325k, this year total funds needed $431k
            • Last year we didn’t need to raise funds for Science program or all of Catalina program (both were supported by COVID funds)
            • Annual giving last year raised $182k with 55% participation, this year $286k needed
          • Aiming for $1,450/student
          • Donate here
          • Company match: ask your employer about their matching program. It’s fully tax-deductible. Federal Tax ID #35-2338736
          • Schoolwide incentives:Mad Science Assembly (at the halfway point)
          • & Popsicle party (at the conclusion of the fundraiser)
          • Animal Olympics: spring fundraiser, extended community (e.g. friends, family, neighbors, etc.) contributions
          • Title 1 funds don’t overlap with what PTO funds
        • Employer Matching Programs
        • Spiritwear
        • Restaurant partnerships
        • Book fair
  • Title 1 Annual Meeting (Sachiko Miyaji, scm3472@lausd.net)
    • We are “Targeted Assistance School” (TAS)
    • Purpose: to provide children with significant opportunity to receive fair, equitable education
    • Title 1 supplements federal funds to help meet the education needs of low achieving students in high poverty school
    • The school population must have poverty ranking of at least 45%
      • Melrose is 45.82% and is 723 out of 783 title 1 schools
      • Our allocation is $100,684
    • Title 1 supplements state provided school funds
    • Who receives the funds is based entirely on academic achievement, it is not based on low-income
    • Being a Title 1 school, Melrose is required to have a School Site Council (SSC) that meets monthly on Mondays, 3pm-4pm (1st meeting Sept 22)
      • SSC consists of Principal x1, teachers x3, staff x1, parents/community members x5
        • Other members of the community can join the meetings too
      • SSC is responsible for developing, reviewing and approving the School Plan for Student Achievement
        • Goals and activities described in the SPSA must be aligned to data that will address the specific student population
      • Community Members nominated/volunteered (5 needed)
        • Shek Kablan
        • Hina Sheikh
        • Stephanie Johnson
        • Victoria Brand
        • Rebecca Klasfeld
      • Title 1 funding includes:
        • Supplementary teacher salary and benefits to support writing SPSA plan: $10k
        • Instructional materials and supplies: $90,684
  • Coach Manny, Star Director (melrose@starinc.org)
    • Minecraft, engineering and cooking are sold out but all other Star Nova classes have availability